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    Jackie's Place

    4.4 (2.1k reviews)
    ModerateSoul Food, Barbeque
    Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order Jackie's Place Takeout or Delivery

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    JACKIE'S PLACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Jackie's Place

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    Southern Fried Fish Plate ($24) with mac n cheese, red beans & rice and cornbread (included in price)
    Angela M.

    Jiff cornbread box mix, that's your cornbread with sugar added. It's the same way I use to make this mix when I was little and my mom let me help. Sides: The red beans and rice have lots of meat. Great for meat eaters, not shared on the online ordering description as other side options specify meat included. I took some rice and beans at the bottom, extremely flavorful but I would not have ordered it as one of my sides knowing I cannot digest land animal meat. The candied yams are not overtly sweet with lots of spices, good flavor. The mac n cheese was cheesy, lightly seasoned and creamy. Mains: The fish was lightly breaded, which I appreciated and well seasoned. Great crust without being cooked hard. The fish was juicy and perfectly cooked. The brisket itself lacked flavor. My husband said eating the brisket sandwich was like eating smoke. The barbecue sauce provided was not great in flavor, he avoided adding it to save the brisket. The three piece fish meal with two sides and corn bread or sliced bread was $24, the brisket sandwich with one side was $19. Overall, neither of us finished our entree or the sides. We would not return.

    Eileen Q.

    The food was so amazing! I've had soul food several times in the South and this is the best soul food I've had so far. I got the plate option and they give you such a large portion for $20. The brisket was so tender and the fries were well seasoned. The Mac and cheese was so comforting and the corn bread was incredible and not crumbly. I have never had corn bread that good! I like that we can also order with a QR code and grab our own takeout boxes.

    Julia B.

    I came here around 8pm for some dinner and Jackie's did not disappoint! I ordered the corn ribs and the fried chicken plate with mac n cheese, fries and cornbread. I demolished the corn ribs so fast, they were perfectly seasoned and came with a Jalapeño dipping sauce. I'm never one to use dipping sauces, but the sauce was delicious! It was a perfect serving too, I think it was two whole corn's worth of corn ribs. Then came my plate: the mac n cheese was cheesy but not overly cheesy, the cornbread was sweet and baked to perfection, the FRIES!! So soft AND crunchy, and of course the chicken legs were battered and fried deliciously. Thank you to the wonderful staff who regularly came to check in on us and make us feel super welcomed. Everyone was so sweet!!!

    Brisket lunch
    Tony A.

    Haven't been here in a while. Ordered the brisket plate for lunch. Our server said the brisket should be excellent, as it was just smoking for 16 hours. 5 pieces of brisket. Or should I say, biscuits? I have never had worse brisket in my life. Like eating sawdust. Nasty.

    Rainier F.

    I have been wanting to try Jackie's Place for a while now. I love me some good soul food. We happen to be in the area so we finally decided to check them out. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon for lunch recently. The restaurant is located in downtown San Jose off north 1st street. Parking is accessible in the back parking lot. The spaces can be tight but there is additional parking on 2nd street as well. The restaurant is fairly large with plenty of tables and high tops. A full service bar is located to the right as soon as you walk in. The restaurant is clean and has nice modern decor. The vibe is welcoming and bustling. We ordered uncle Greg's smoked ribs with cornbread, candied yams, and rice, beef brisket with cornbread, coleslaw, and mac & cheese, watermelon lemonade, lemonade, and a glass of Chardonnay. Everything was delicious and hearty. Both the ribs and beef brisket were tender and juicy. All the sides complemented the bbq meats very well. The candied yams were sweet and tasty. Mac & cheese were creamy and gooey. The cornbread was tasty and moist in the inside. Both lemonade drinks were refreshing and hit the spot. Overall we enjoyed our experience at Jackie's Place. The staff were so nice and attentive. I appreciated the cozy and family friendly atmosphere. Price point was fair. I definitely want to come back to try the happy hour and of course other items on the menu.

    Beef brisket plate
    Eden H.

    Wow!!! Honestly speechless the food I ordered is delicious, no notes. It comes with 4 decent thick slices of beef, I forgot to take a picture before I started eating. I got the Smokes beef brisket place and I selected the macaroni and greens beans as my two sides. The brisket is tender, the cornbread muffin it comes with is yummy, the green beans flavorful with a small spice kick, and the macaroni cheesy. This is exactly how you imagine BBQ or Smoked meat to be like. The food exceeded my expectations and I'm glad it did take me so long to try it because I would crave it weekly! Best comfort food I've tried so far in San Jose. I highly recommen, they had lots of seating inside but the parking lot is not big truck or SUV friendly so I recommend parking on a street and walking. But if you have a midsize car, no problem. The service was friendly too.

    Uncle Greg's Ribs Plate
    Oliver C.

    I was craving BBQ ribs and Jackie's place popped up on my yelp search so I decided to give it a try. The restaurant is "self serve" style. Meaning you place your order and pay through their QR code menu. Even though it was self-serve, the staff was friendly and they came to check in on our table a couple of times to refill our drinks. The food was fantastic! As soon as you park you can smell the smoker going and it makes your mouth water. I ordered the ribs with a side of beef and beans and Mac and cheese. The cornbread comes with the platter. Ribs were St. Louis style with the bits of cartilage at the end that I really love to chew on. Meat was delicious and fall off the bone. Bbq sauce is ok the sweet side by balances well with a few drops of hot sauce. Portions are very health. The beans were delicious and almost reminded me of chili. Mac and cheese was on point. Overall I highly recommend checking them out. Whether you are in the area or just looking for a great bbq joint in the bay, Jackie's place won't disappoint. For the vegetarians, try their jackfruit "pulled pork" bowl! Also their desserts selection is amazing. Will have to come back to try their peach cobbler and lemon pie!

    Amanda D.

    Finally came to the new downtown spot. As always, staff very friendly and welcoming. Food is off the chain!!! Fresh food, made to order. Love this place! Can't leave without a banana pudding!!

    Pound Cake
    Stacey I.

    I wanted to like this place so bad, especially with the abundance of 4 and 5-star reviews. But I think that was part of the problem. I went in with really high expectations. To me, the food ended up being just okay. It definitely wasn't bad, but a lot of it was dry and pretty average when it came to seasoning and flavor. Now, you might be thinking, "What do I know about good BBQ?". To be fair, I'm not claiming to be a BBQ expert. But I do know I've had BBQ at other well-known spots around the Bay Area and even in Texas that was much more flavorful, juicy, and moist. FOOD: 7/10 A lot of us ordered brisket-based dishes, and unfortunately, the brisket was pretty dry. Even after dipping it in their BBQ sauce, it was still dry, the sauce mainly just added flavor. For my sides, I got the potato salad and coleslaw. The potato salad was good! The coleslaw, however, was pretty mid. It mostly tasted like plain cabbage and could've used a bit more flavor. The cornbread had a nice, slightly toasted exterior, but the inside was very dry and crumbly, making each bite fall apart. I was especially excited to try the banana pudding because I'd been craving it for the longest time, and thankfully, it didn't disappoint. It had that classic creamy pudding texture, the vanilla wafers were perfectly soft, the whipped cream was smooth, and overall I really enjoyed it. SERVICE: 9/10 Ordering is done through a QR code on your phone, and the staff brings everything out to you. We had barely submitted our order when our drinks and dessert arrived, and our entrées followed shortly after. Everything came out surprisingly fast. We also had the chance to meet Juju, who is Jackie's cousin (Jackie is the owner and chef). If you look at the menu, there's actually a section featuring Juju's specialty teas and juices. She was honestly the sweetest and funniest person. I absolutely adored her! She was so fun to chat with and shared that a lot of well-known Bay Area names have stopped by Jackie's, including LaRussell, E-40, and members of the 49ers. It was such a nice interaction and definitely one of the highlights of our visit. AMBIANCE: 7/10 The restaurant is simple and spacious with plenty of different seating options. If you're looking to grab a drink, they also have a bar area. The restrooms are downstairs. The sink and toilet were kind of going through it but they got the job done. There's parking available both upstairs and downstairs. Just be careful because the parking spaces are pretty tight and narrow. Overall, I can definitely see why people enjoy this place, but for me, the BBQ just didn't live up to the hype. I'm glad I got to try it for myself. It was definitely a situation where you need to try it for yourself despite the reviews.

    The real deal! Southern fried fish plate with green beans, candied yams, and cornbread.
    DrDuru A.

    What a great find. Conveniently located near downtown San Jose, this soul food spot serves up all the classics. Each one that I had I would order again: the southern fried fish plate with green beans, candied yams, and corn bread. Some in my party were clearly veterans and ordered a bunch of food to go. The sweet potato pie was the star of my show. ON POINT. Smooth texture, spicy with a hint of caramel (maybe even citrus), perhaps on the sweet side for some but I loved it, While you order from a QR code at the table, the service is still good and prompt. (There was one server who was really curt, but there was a whole battery of help which meant my overall impression was favorable). Spacious dining and great atmosphere.

    Erly G.

    The first time we had a taste of Jackie's Place was for a take out since my son in law and daughter were raving about it. Because the take out experience was so good, we decided to dine in this time. Came on a Saturday afternoon with no reservation. Had to wait about 15 minutes to get seated because this joint gets really packed. Parking is available in the back of the complex which is very tight space. Once you get seated, you can either order through scanning their QR code or line up by the cash register to order. For this visit, the ribs were not available as they sold out so what a BUMMER. Our food for both the take out and dine (on separate occasions) were as follows: * Smoked beef brisket * Fried Chicken wings * Hot links * Key lime pie * Uncle Greg's ribs - so good and I was a bit frustrated when it wasn't available during our dine in experience * Smoked BBQ Chicken * The Juju * Banana Pudding * Butter Pound Cake * Chicken & Waffles * Honey Butter Cornbread - never miss to order this because OMG this is really really good My thoughts: * The Best Bites: Uncle Greg's Ribs and Fried Chicken Wings * Don't Miss: the honey butter cornbread * The Vibe: chill and casual, spacious and family friendly * Patience required especially on weekends. Wait can be longer because they are really popular. * Portions are huge and they are reasonably priced as well Never miss the opportunity to try Jackie's Place! They have 2 locations in San Jose. May 2026

    Storefront
    Eric I.

    I had jury duty for 3 days at SJ Superior Court and had to find lunch places during my time on the jury. Luckily, Jackie's Place is within walking distance from the courthouse. I like a good BBQ and this was very very good. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich with coleslaw as my side. The meat was very flavorful and VERY tender, which was great, because I was eating standing up due to reasons that aren't necessary to explain. But it was easy to take bits off the meat without having to put the entire piece into my mouth - you can see it's cooked well, but still so tender. And tasty! The bun and coleslaw were also good - big portion of coleslaw! But the star of the show was the beef. $19 for the sandwich + coleslaw, which I thought was fair given the quality. I ordered at the counter as take-out, and it took while (15 min?), but it was worth it. The person who took my order was friendly and cheery and the place looked clean and like it would be a fun place to eat had I had the time to do so. So would love to come back many times and try a lot of things on the menu.

    Southern Fried Fish Plate
    Elijah T.

    1st time here and the food was great. A family owned gem , hidden downtown that offers great bbq and atmosphere. The staff was extremely friendly and welcoming! Brisket was tender and had a good smoke ring ;paired great with the bbq sauce. Fried chicken was amazing with hot sauce.(it was super crispy and was freshly cooked ; nice and hot !) Fish n chips were seasoned well and just fell apart when you bit into it. So good! The sides were all delicious....cornbread hit the spot. Going to have a drink at their bar seating area next time they had a great selection. They made us feel like family here! Great for hosting events too ( large party seating available)

    Hot Link with corn bread, Mac, fries, and a side of their mustard.

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    24 days ago

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    Page 1 of 53

    Jackie's Place Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Jackie's Place

    Update: It's Bosa, a catfish relative. What type of fish is used for the Southern Fried Fish?

    Not sure but it was delicious. Maybe catfish

    Do they accept cash?

    Yes, but it's better to order with your card because your order set up before you get your food, when you scan a QR code at your table. Other wise if you pay cash you have to pay the bill at the register.

    Do we need reservations for a party of 4?

    Call ahead it gets busy. Go early too!

    Is Jackie's pet friendly on the outdoor patio?

    No it's not

    Hello, will you be open on Juneteenth 2024, or will you be closed for the holiday? Thank you.

    They're open today.

    Does Jackie's place ever answer the phone or respond to a catering request?

    The two times I have been there the phones rings almost constantly it's a very popular restaurant especially on a Sunday a lot of customers come straight from church dressed in their Sunday best😊. For catering I would approach then through their… 

    Do I need to make a reservation?

    Nope! They actually don't take reservations if I'm not mistaken.

    Does Jackie's Place have outdoor seating (even in winter)?

    Yes they have

    How is the parking situation?

    there's a decent amount of parking spots behind the restaurant they have their own private parking.

    Do you need to make a reservation for a party of 3?

    No, they don't take reservations.

    How can I order online? The website is not accepting online orders. I can only purchase a gift card.

    They are closed this Thanksgiving weekend which is probably why online ordering is not working right now. Check out their Instagram page, they often post updates there :)

    Are you open on Thanksgiving?

    No. Definitely not. Time for family

    When are you open?

    Thursday through Sunday 11am-7pm

    Are they doing indoor dinning?

    No, not as of yet.

    Who makes your Bean Pies and Sweetpotato pies?

    Noonie Cakes

    When are they open?

    Thursday thru Sunday starting at 11 am

    What kind of meat do they use ? Gmo free ? Etc?

    It's meat who cares. Stop buying into the media lies and bs..

    View All 20 Questions

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    Brenda's French Soul Food

    4.2(12.9k reviews)
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    Delicious Beignets & Breakfast!…read more We were visiting the area from San Francisco, and a friend recommended this restaurant. Get there early because it fills up very quickly! We arrived just in time before it started getting busy. I was especially excited to try the beignets, so I ordered the Beignet Flight--crawfish, cinnamon apple, chocolate, and the classic regular beignet. Très bon! They were all delicious! The crawfish had great flavor, with dough that was crispy outside and soft inside. The regular beignet was especially good--crispy outside, soft inside, just perfect. And definitely eat the chocolate beignet while it's still warm. When you bite into it, that warm, gooey chocolate comes out. So good! The coffee was excellent too. I highly recommend a latte with the beignets. My husband had the Eggs Benedict with deep-fried green tomatoes and bacon, and it was another level! The crispy green tomato with the eggs and sauce was such a great combination. If you didn't tell me it was green tomato, I might have thought it was an apple! We also loved seeing so many locals there. You know a place is good when the locals keep coming back. Highly recommend this restaurant to visitors and locals alike. Give it a try--you're going to love it!

    I haven't been here in years and they're still amazing as I remembered. Everything was cooked to…read moreperfection and right amount of flavor. We even ordered to go for the long road home. Their prices are reasonable given the portion and tastefulness. The catfish and grits were good for two of us. The beignets are my absolute favorite! It was hot and fluffy. Parking isn't too bad, few blocks away there are multiple lots. The service was great too, especially given how busy it got. Will definitely be back!

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    Southern Cafe

    Southern Cafe

    3.8(647 reviews)
    35.5 mi•Dimond District, Lower Hills
    •$$

    Their food was pretty good. Sometimes they were pleasant…read more But since they stopped indoor dining and then just closed, it's a big drag. And there isn't any regular update and that means you can try calling--IF they even kerp the outgoing message accurate. I finally made it to Touch of Soul since they moved. It was excellent! It at least seemed the food was spot on with all dishes cooked with aplomb. My only issue with TOS (a personal pet peeve) is they never returned to real plates and actual silverware. All you can get even for dine-in are plastic utensils. Anyway, in short, southern cafe is dead--Go to touch of soul on adeline

    Southern Cafe man oh man I wanted love you! Soul food is my absolute favorite. My fat girl self can…read moreeat it everyday. It's so comforting and filling. I drive down this place nearly weekly and everytime I look the line is crazy long or they're closed. So one day the boyfriend and me drove by, hadn't ate and seen no line. So we stopped. Big mistake! I ordered Breaded Pork Chops with red beans and rice and mac! The pork chop had so much breading..... so salty. My cholesterol went out the roof. Rice was hard still, mac was just okay! Now on to my poor boyfriends meal... he actually wanted what I ordered lol! We tend to always want the same meals ag places but since i'm so picky he's always thoughtful and lets me get it then he'll order something different. He went with the Meatloaf with mac and rice and gravy..... i'm sure you can tell just by the picture of that meatloaf he wasn't very happy! I forgot to take a pic of what it looked like when we cut it.. but it was RAW. The sauce they smothered it in was disgusting. The gravy on rice was beyond salty. The only item edible on our plates was our mac. I wouldn't be back nor do I recommend them. There prices are way too high for the quality of their food. Oakland has way more soul food places worth checking out!

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    Brenda's Meat & Three - Fried Chicken

    Brenda's Meat & Three

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
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    Great vibes here! The staff were super friendly and had good energy to them…read more The food was very tasty - highly recommend the fried chicken! All the sides were tasty too. I really liked the crawfish beignet The dessert beignet were really big - definitely need to share. I recommend the ube one. We got the flight but only managed to eat one bc we were so full and needed to take the rest home.

    We tried to call Brenda's to order food for pick up, but they didn't answer the phone. We used the…read moreapp and the pick up time was dictated as 15 minutes. No option to change it. My husband was getting out of the hospital and I figured we could get there in time. Within a few minutes of the order being confirmed and my credit card being charged, I received an alert that the order would be ready in an hour! My husband was extremely fragile and couldn't tolerate any wait, let alone an hour. We live in Marin County and the idea was that we would get dinner to eat as soon as we got home. I tried calling but again the phone just rang for a long time and then cut off. I tried to call the other store. No answer. Door Dash had no telephone number and I texted them. My husband was feeling worse his caregiver and I had to get him home. I kept trying to reach Brenda's, the time kept getting longer. We were almost home when we received an update that the food was ready. Over an hour later than the initially scheduled time. We had been customers for 20 years, both dine in and take out. We were so enamored with Brenda's that we took our neighbors there and picked up food for our family reunion from them. We weren't trying to reach them at peak times--Wednesday afternoon. Now my credit card company is trying to get in contact with them--no better luck than I had. Our infatuation with Brenda's is over. No matter how good the food is, if there is no human connection and no way to interact, it doesn't work.

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    Nella's Place - Garlic, Parmesan, chicken, catering tray

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    4.6(35 reviews)
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    While out in California we search for Black Owned restaurants and came across Nella's Place while…read moresearching. I'm must say the vibe and food did not disappoint. Fiod made fresh and was so delicious. One of the best soul food restaurants ever! I thought my grandma was in the kitchen preparing my food. I must say my flight from South Carolina was well worth the drive from San Francisco to San Leandro, California. Ms. Nella can throw down on some soul food. Please visit!!! Great service and wonderful personality!! 5 Star!!!!!!!

    Date: 9/4/2026 Time: 9:20 PM 58° Cool…read more It is 7:30 PM and I wasn't sure what I felt like having for dinner. My male companion had a craving for some gumbo. Okay, I was not that impressed with the gumbo from Y's Choice. While searching on this website, I saw another restaurant (Cajun Claws) listed in Oakland. A quick phone call to Cajun Claws re: their gumbo. The gentleman who answered the phone told me their gumbo had sausage and potatoes. That gumbo certainly did not sound appealing to my male companion and me. I pass. Time is flying by quickly. A further search resulted in Nella's Place in San Leandro. I called around 8:15 PM, and asked about their gumbo and what time they close. What was described to me sound quite tasty. Leaving from Alameda to San Leandro, we arrived at Nella's Place before 9:30 PM. Nella's is a black owned restaurant serving up gumbo and soul food. It is a one room restaurant with a seating capacity of approximately 20 people. I have to admit the ambiance and decor are quite classy, beautiful and intimate. The owner is very hospitable, gracious and attentive. It is my first time at this restaurant. I did not know what to expect. I was surprised and totally impressed with the layout of this restaurant and the menu. Samples of the gumbo, mac 'n cheese, green beans and potatoes were served. OMG, the samples were ono delicious - quite pleasing to my palate. Eats: Gumbo with rice and cornbread for my male companion; basa dinner (6 pieces) with two sides and cornbread. My sides were green beans and potatoes (candied) and fried cabbage. The dinner was bomb-diggity delicious. So good, and figuratively speaking, I wanna slap the cook and the mama for this wonderful feast. LOL. Of course, my eyes got bigger than my stomach and I had to ask for a box to take the rest of my dinner home. I hope for more visits to Nella's in the future.

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    39.6 mi•Santa Fe, North Oakland
    •$$

    I'm so happy that a friend put me on to this place. It reminds me of my late aunts cooking and it's…read morejust good ole simplistic breakfast staples. I tried corned beef hash for the first time and loved it so I came back for that and was not disappointed. The meal is about $16 comes with toast, eggs, and I chose the grits which are also hella good. The service is always amazing and so is the food. The only reason why I gave 4 stars is because I can't bring myself to agree with the price of their breakfast sides compared to what you get. & it may have been some months but they used to fill both sides with grits. Seems like portions are getting cut for Togo orders maybe but prices are staying the same. For 3 slices of thin xtra crispy pieces of bacon (actually two slices and burnt pieces) it's $8.25+ I remember thinking it was insane so I never added any extra meat and after going recently I was reminded why, my order came out to $27, when I opened the side of bacon I was disappointed. I believe the quality and quantity should better match the price. Otherwise I'll gladly go buy a full pack of thick cut Oscar Meyer bacon for less than what they're charging for 3 slices and just add it at home lol. it's tough for business owners and consumers out here so while I understand price increase, it should still make sense for the consumer. Still love this place down. Just won't be paying for a side again.

    I hate leaving negative reviews, but unfortunately I have to be honest about my experience…read more I ordered the macaroni and cheese, short ribs, yams, and rice with gravy on Father's Day and spent about $57. Out of everything I ordered, only the fish trom the second plate was decent. The rice was extremely hard, as if it wasn't cooked properly. The gravy had an unpleasant taste and ended up being poured over everything, including the macaroni and cheese, which made it difficult to enjoy. The yams were cut into huge chunks with little care or presentation. The biggest disappointment was the short ribs. The meat quality was very poor, with an unpleasant taste and texture that made it nearly impossible to eat. I was genuinely shocked by how bad it was. For the amount of money I spent, I expected much better quality, preparation, and presentation. Nothing was separated properly, and the meal felt rushed and carelessly put together. I am very disappointed, especially since this was supposed to be a Father's Day meal. I wanted to support this business, but based on this experience, I cannot justify spending $57 for food of this quality. I hope this feedback is taken seriously so improvements can be made in the future

    Photos
    Lois the Pie Queen - Great ambiance in the dining room

    Great ambiance in the dining room

    Lois the Pie Queen - Hash browns, veggie sausage and eggs

    Hash browns, veggie sausage and eggs

    Lois the Pie Queen - Corn Beef Hash

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    Corn Beef Hash

    The Front Porch - Fried Chicken + collard greens

    The Front Porch

    3.9(3.4k reviews)
    39.3 mi•Bernal Heights, Mission
    •$$

    Used to come here all the time, but after moving away from the area, I hadn't been back in a while…read more Eating here again reminded me exactly why this spot has been around for almost two decades the food is just that good. Everything we ordered did not disappoint: ​Fried Chicken: Crispy, golden, and classic. The meat itself is mild, but it works well with the sides, the punchy, savory collard greens balance out every bite. ​Creole Crawfish Étouffée: Rich, deeply flavorful, and comforting. ​Fried Pickles: Crispy, tangy, and great on their own, but pro tip: put a fried pickle right on your spoonful of étouffée. The crunchy, vinegary pop against that rich crawfish sauce is incredible. ​Pork: Perfectly seasoned with the perfect tenderness with just the right amount of satisfying bite and chewiness. ​Dr. Pepper Simmered Short Ribs (Daily Special): Boneless, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and beautifully balanced with sweet and savory notes. ​Side Note: The chicken, pork, and short ribs all came with mashed potatoes, and the way they season those potatoes managed to complement each distinct main dish perfectly. ​Honestly, not a single miss on the table. Highly recommended!

    Writing a review like this is difficult for several reasons, and I very rarely leave negative…read morereviews. As someone who has works in the restaurant industry, I understand firsthand how challenging this business can be, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people who work hard to make a dining experience memorable. That's why I don't say this lightly when I say that our food experience tonight was extremely disappointing. We ordered the pork chop, which was okay, but the cabbage side was honestly hard to eat. I'm not sure if it was intended to be slaw or steamed cabbage, but it was essentially wet cabbage with very little flavor. The potatoes were decent, although the portion was quite small and they had a texture that tasted almost like boxed mashed potatoes. The biscuits were extremely dry and hard, and unfortunately, the butter served alongside them wasn't very good either. The spinach that came with the special was, without exaggeration, one of the worst parts of the meal. It had a very unpleasant taste that made us question whether something was off with it. There really wasn't another way to describe it. For a $44 plate, I expect the steak to be cooked properly, the sides to be flavorful and thoughtfully prepared, and the entire dish to feel worth the price. We also ordered a peach soda that was $10, which already feels very expensive for a soft drink. What was even more surprising was finding out that refills were not complimentary. That's something I feel should be clearly communicated when ordering. This is supposed to be soul food, a style of cooking known for bold, comforting, flavorful food. Unfortunately, our meal just didn't deliver that. Everyone at our table left feeling unsatisfied. We spent $163 for three entrées, three drinks, and two orders of biscuits. When you spend that kind of money and the food is exceptional, you leave feeling like it was money well spent. When the experience falls this far short, it's understandably frustrating and leaves you questioning the value. I do want to give credit where it's due: our server was wonderful. We had absolutely no complaints about the service. He was attentive, pleasant, and did her job well. I genuinely hope this feedback is received in the spirit it's intended. I know how difficult the restaurant business is, and I'm not looking to tear anyone down. I simply believe that when a meal costs this much, the quality, flavor, portions, and overall execution should reflect the price.

    Photos
    The Front Porch - Bar area!

    Bar area!

    The Front Porch - Asparagus with poached egg

    Asparagus with poached egg

    The Front Porch - Citrus and arugula salad

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    Citrus and arugula salad

    Scend's Restaurant - Wing Ding

    Scend's Restaurant

    4.0(211 reviews)
    29.7 mi
    •$$

    My Friend Rodney keeps telling me that Scends has Good Food!!!…read more So we went to Scends on Saturday for dinner!! We Parked out front on the Street! The Parking has a 2 Hour Limit!!! We were Warmly Greeted when we Entered and We Grabbed a Table!! I Perused the Menu and ordered a 6 Piece Catfish Dinner with Fries and. Peach Cobbler!! I Ordered a Coke Classic for a Beverage !!! Rodney Ordered the Turkey Wings Special with Gravy and White Rice!!! He also Ordered Sweet Potato Pie !!! The Restaurant is Clean and Tastefully decorated!!! Our Food Arrived after a few minutes of waiting!! The Owner actually served our food to us!!! He is a Very Nice and Hospitable!!! He Actually gave us Watermelon Slices after our meals!!! It was Nice and Refreshing!! My Catfish Dinner was Delicious and Cooked to Perfection!!! Rodney Loved his Turkey Wings so much !!! If you did a DNA test on them Bones it would link back to Rodney lol !!! Scends is a Baller On A Budget Approved Establishment!!! I keep my Pimp Hands Strong!!! Number 34. out of the top 50 most Prolific Yelp Elites of 2025!!!

    Food was ready, hot and served with a wonderful smile. Loved it-perfect!!…read moreChicken, SO good and flavorful...yes!! Rest was so sad! Yam...ESPECIALLY what I chose here for...tastes love they were straight out of a can. No brown sugar or Allspice seasonings; no nutmeg or cinnamon, nutmeg or vanilla extract or butter, from what I could tell. Should have been pven baked for about 45 mins to an hour to get things gooey and flavorful. Lost opportunity! Not the 1st time it has lacked flavor. Same for red beans and rice. Minimal flavor. Potato Salad-minimal, minimal flavor. I KNOW every family has their own recipes for different foods, but, come on...a SOUL FOOD restauranr shoild be screaming with flavor and smells from when you first come in the front door. But, again, the chicken was so, so, so good!!

    Photos
    Scend's Restaurant - Collard greens

    Collard greens

    Scend's Restaurant - Fried Catfish with Coleslaw

    Fried Catfish with Coleslaw

    Scend's Restaurant - Sign Board out front.

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    Sign Board out front.

    Hard Knox Cafe - Spicy Fried Chicken and Waffle

    Hard Knox Cafe

    3.8(2.1k reviews)
    43.6 mi•Outer Richmond
    •$$

    Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5…read moreAtmosphere: 4/5 Price to Portion: 4/5 Overall: My go to place when I want some southern food! The extended review... Food: Chicken and Waffles - 4/5 - Can't go wrong with the Chicken and Waffles. The good thing is that with this meal you actually get 2 cornbread muffins...carboverload!!!!!! I've not had a bad meal at this location thus far. Service: Staff is very friendly. Ambiance: 4/5 - Indoor and outdoor seating with some fun decor in the place. Price to Portion: 4/5 - You get a decent amount of food and won't leave hungry.

    Quality/Quantity - My friends recommended this place. We wanted a break from Asian food, even…read morethough I believe it is an Asian owner. I got the safe order, chicken and waffles Overall, a good dish. Decent portions. I ate more than expected. I would have preferred my waffles a little crispier. And I washed it down with a Henhouse IPA. My guest got ox tail and the turkey wing specials. The ox tails were huge and meaty. Their orders each came with two sides. All of us got those delicious corn muffins. See all my pictures. They are in the process of changing the menu. Plus, they added more taps, but it was not on the menu yet. See pictures. Ambiance - Decent size local business. Two floors. Not busy, plenty of seating. Cool decor. Indoor and outdoor seating. Street parking. I walked and my friends found parking across the street. Service - 5 stars; welcoming, friendly, and accommodating. We had quite a few requests. Price - $85 + generous tip. My share with tax and tip was approximately $37. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success.

    Photos
    Hard Knox Cafe - Cool interior with the rusted tin walls and vintage decor

    Cool interior with the rusted tin walls and vintage decor

    Hard Knox Cafe - Oxtails with sides of mashed potatoes and mac & cheese

    Oxtails with sides of mashed potatoes and mac & cheese

    Hard Knox Cafe - Cat fish

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    Cat fish

    Jackie's Place - soulfood - Updated October 2026

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